Real homes

The couple complemented the dark navy-blue units with natural oak worktops and flooring

Kitchen makeover: ‘We’ve used every bit of space in the best way’

Second-hand stores and sites are high Jade’s hit list for affordable homewares. The cast-iron fireplace was an eBay buy, while the floor lamp was found on Gumtree, and the nest of tables cost just for £3 from a charity shop

Home makeover 'We could see huge potential in this space'

‘I knew I wanted some kind of storage behind the bath to hold ornaments and pictures, but I didn’t really want traditional shelves, which also wouldn’t be waterproof,’ says Jenny. ‘So, we created a false wall exactly the right depth and height we wanted. I bought a piece of black plastic windowsill – which is waterproof – for £10 and then cut it down and it just slotted onto the shelf that has been built out’

Bathroom makeover 'I wanted it to look good and work well'

‘Previously the units were white shiny vinyl, but I really wanted to change them, so I did! I used paint from Lick and it went on really well. I love the end result and most importantly, I enjoy cooking in here now; it’s much more of an inspiring place to get creative with food’

Home makeover 'Our house is full of colour'

A kitchen with lots of drawers allows you to compartmentalise equipment more efficiently. Bev’s island stores all her cutlery, utensils, pots and pans

Kitchen makeover 'The new space works for everyone'

The huge sitting room, the site of the old forge, was one of the main attractions for Charlie and Andy. They’ve filled it with a mixture of contemporary chairs from Cult Furniture and retro pieces, including bespoke lampshades and grey sheepskins from Millie & Rose Designs

Home makeover 'The old village forge is now our unique family home'

Above the fireplace is artwork by Jessica Ford. ‘I fell in love with her use of colour, and knew I had to have one of her prints sitting in pride of place,’ says Emily

Home makeover 'Renting didn’t stop us decorating'

Home makeover: 'We made big changes to create our forever home'

Home makeover 'We made big changes to create our forever home'

Kitchen makeover: 'We’ve tripled the size of our kitchen'

Kitchen makeover: ‘We’ve tripled the size of our kitchen’

‘We originally intended to use pallet wood for the basin unit, but decided scaffold boards would give a cleaner, more finished look. We used linseed oil to bring out the colour and grain of the wood and worktop oil to seal it. The whole unit only cost us £60!’

Bathroom makeover: ‘I didn’t think we had room for a bath’

‘We managed to get the black Natuzzi sofa half price as it was a

Home makeover: ‘I didn’t tell my husband I bought it’

Teresa chose orange accessories in rustic tones to accent the room and complement the wall tiles. This warms the room up during the winter months and adds a splash of colour to the neutral scheme

Bathroom makeover: ‘We turned a cupboard into a walk-in shower’

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Home makeover: ‘I discovered my love for maximalism!’

Thanks to their new open-plan layout, the family can now spend many happy hours cooking, eating and socialising together

Kitchen makeover: ‘Our new open-plan room has the wow factor’

Diane’s confidence with colour shines bright in the
living room, while clusters of plants add layers of natural
texture. Diane varnished her IKEA Lisabo coffee table
with Ronseal dark oak interior varnish for a retro look

Home makeover: ‘The colours fill my senses’